media

Us and Them: how populist parties get their message across

Current discussions about politics – be it European, British, or American – almost inevitably end up being discussions about populism. Yet we know little about how populist parties communicate their messages. Focusing on this area, and drawing on extensive research from across Europe, Toril Aalberg, Frank Esser, Carsten Reinemann, Jesper Stromback, and Claes de Vreese share some key findings […]

The conflict between religion and media has deep roots

A recent report into the place of religion in public life presented a gloomy picture of the relationship between media and religion. Whilst media misrepresentations usually concern Muslims, the most vocal complainers are Christians. Abby Day argues the reason for this may lie in more fundamental, ancient and even ontological concerns.

Recent attention to mainstream media reveals that relations between […]

Don’t blame ‘the media’ for the state of the referendum campaign

How well has the UK’s news media done in staging the debate and informing the public? Some outlets have fought valiantly to report the referendum campaign fairly, writes Charlie Beckett. Members of the public who complain they aren’t getting the facts must be joking. Nonetheless, the media take their cue from politicians, and campaigners’ strategy of destabilising the discourse while controlling their own message based […]

British media is failing to give voters the full picture ahead of elections

Recently it has been argued that the integrity of UK elections suffers when it comes to the media coverage associated with them. Here Stephen Cushion and Roger Scully outline how limited the coverage is, with a particular focus on Wales. With the EU referendum crowding the media space, important local and devolved elections may struggle to keep on the media agenda.

Campaigners should not overestimate the influence of traditional newspapers, says Charlie Beckett: their sales are in decline and they face competition from more politically neutral and humorous news sites like Buzzfeed and Vice. In any case, it is patronising to assume that a sheep-like public follow the diktats of the media they read. He identifies the outlets which will help swing […]

Excessive media power in the UK necessitates a more efficient and potent regulatory system

Creating spectacle in whatever form sells copy, but it also greatly increases visibility. Politicians need visibility and need the media in order to reach the electorate, to get through to them. This has created a very symbiotic but also a toxic relationship between political and media elites, writes Bart Cammaerts. With the disproportional degree of power the media holds comes responsibility, transparency […]

Television dramas have increasingly reinforced a picture of British politics as ‘sleazy’

There were 24 TV dramas produced about New Labour and all made a unique contribution to public perceptions of politics. These dramas increasingly reinforced a picture of British politics as ‘sleazy’ and were apt to be believed by many already cynical viewers as representing the truth. Steven Fielding argues that political scientists need to look more closely at how culture […]

Book Review: Transparency in Politics and the Media: Accountability and Open Government

Governments around the world are increasingly experimenting with initiatives in transparency or ‘open government’, including more user-friendly government websites, greater access to government data, the extension of freedom of information legislation and broader attempts to involve the public in government decision making. This volume aims to analyse the challenges and opportunities presented to journalists as they attempt to hold governments accountable […]